The appellant landowner sought compensation from the respondent pipeline company for reclamation work on an expropriated easement.
After a protracted dispute involving two arbitration committees and a discontinued court action, the second Arbitration Committee awarded the appellant his costs for all proceedings.
The Federal Court of Appeal set aside this award.
The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal, holding that the standard of review for the Committee's interpretation of its home statute regarding costs is reasonableness.
The Court found the Committee reasonably interpreted section 99(1) of the National Energy Board Act to award costs for both arbitration proceedings and the related court action, consistent with the principle of full compensation in expropriation law.
